New York: Sales Tax Handbook
What is included in New York's sales tax basis?
Many times, an otherwise-taxable transaction will include bundled fees like excise taxes, installation fees, or finance charges or be modified with coupons, installment payment plans, etc. One question that will often arise is whether or not a certain payment or fee is included in a transaction's taxable basis.
The taxable basis refers to the portion of an entire transaction that is subject to New York's sales tax. This page answers common questions about which common fees are included in the sales tax basis in New York, and which are excluded.
Contents
- Are coupons and discounts included in the sales tax basis?
- Are excise taxes included in the included in the sales tax basis?
- How are installment-based sales taxed?
- Are installation fees included in the sales tax basis?
- Are finance charges included in the sales tax basis?
- Can I get a refund on sales taxes paid on returned or repossessed items?
- Can I get a refund on sales taxes paid on bad debts?
Inclusion in Sales Tax Basis
Are coupons and cash discounts included in the New York sales tax basis?
What is not included are discounts which represent a price reduction and retailers coupons. What is included are manufacturer's coupons, reimbursed coupons, and any sort of early payment discount.
TopAre excise taxes included in the New York sales tax basis?
Excise taxes 
are separate levies added by many states to the price of commodity items such as alcohol, gasoline, etc.
What is included are excise taxes imposed on manufacturers, importers, producers, distributors, or distillersd. Not included are excise taxes which were imposed directly on consumers (excluding the cigarette taxes).
How are installment-based sales taxed?
Many businesses offer customers payment plans that allow them to pay the full price for a product over time in installments, often leading to confusion about when and how much sales tax is collected and remitted to New York. The state has implemented the following provisions regarding installment sales:
Total sales price reported at time of sale
Are installation charges included in the New York sales tax basis?
While the taxation of tangible goods is relatively straightforward, some states consider the installation costs associated with a tangible object (like carpeting, a home or vehicle fixture, etc) to be taxable. New York policy states:
Installation charges are generally excluded from the taxable price of a tangible product.
Note: Excluded if installation constitutes real property addition, capital improvement, or in certain other situations
Are finance charges included in the New York sales tax basis?
Many businesses offer customers financing on higher-value products, and include financing charges in the overall cost of the item. These finance charges may also be subject to sales taxes. New York policy states:
Finance charges are generally included in the taxable price of a tangible product.
How can I get reimbursed for sales taxes paid on items that are returned or repossessed?
If a taxable good for which sales tax has been collected is returned or reposessed by the merchant, the state may allow the amount of sales tax collected to be either deducted from the merchant's current sales tax balance or refunded to the merchant by the state. New York's policies state that returns and repossessions are:
Tax that has not been remitted may be deducted during current reporting period. A credit or a refund is allowed for tax that has already been remitted
Note: No specific provisions on repossessions
How can I get reimbursed for sales taxes paid on bad debts?
If a merchant offers goods to a consumer on credit and the payment for those goods becomes delinquent, the merchant may be eligible to be reimbursed any sales tax they paid to the state on the consumer's behalf when the transaction was made. The method of reimbursement varies state by state.
Tax paid on bad debts can generally be recovered by the merchant as a refund or credit.
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